If you think the LJ Contracting midget Tier 2 Cougars are sticking around Prince George a lot more this season to play hockey closer to home, you're not under the wrong impression.
Not only have they doubled the length of their Cariboo Amateur Hockey Association schedule (from eight to 16 games) but they also have themselves a guarantee they'll be skating in their home arena as hosts of the provincial championship in March.
"It's really an unusual season," said Cougars head coach Wes Scott. "We'll get eight home dates for the Cariboo league and with everything else we'll get close to 20 home dates, which is pretty unusual for a Prince George rep team."
The Cougars are front and centre for local audiences this weekend when they host their annual tournament at the Kin Centre, Coliseum and CN Centre. They play their first game today at 2:30 p.m. at Kin 1 against Prince Rupert, then are back at the same rink at 7 p.m. to play Kitimat. Saturday at 11:15 a.m., also at Kin 1, the Cougars have a date with Kelowna.
"It's a pretty balanced tournament," said Scott. "Smithers and Terrace are historically always strong and always close with each other. We haven't played Smithers yet this year but we've played Terrace three times and we have a win a loss and a tie."
Playoffs start Saturday at 3 p.m. and placement games begin Sunday at 9 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Kin 1.
The Cougars sport a 15-5-3 season record. They're 3-0-1 this year against Williams Lake and have a 3-0-0 record against Quesnel.
"That's really unusual," said Scott. "It's usually the other way around (against Quesnel). I've coached this age group for several years and they've given us a real go.
"We have a strong group. The major midgets have a real diverse group and the midget Tier 1 (Coast Inn of the North Cougars) is probably the strongest team in the province in that category."
LJ Contracting is a mix of five 17-year-olds, eight 16-year-olds and five 15-year-olds. They have seven players back from the team which lost a three-game zone final playoff series to Williams Lake last season.
Seth Lapre and Mathew Ens are the Cougar goalies. Bailey McFaul, Bob Legare, Landon Kitchen and Mason Roche are the veterans on defence, playing with rookies Raymond Prive and Jayce Schweitzer.
At forward are Dean Whitcomb, Tyler Marsh, Mathew MacSemniuk, Tanner Riplinger, Jax Xander Bailey, Garet Anderson, Matthias Urbanski, Garrett Hilton, Landon Moleschi and Ryan Whitehead.
"We definitely have some firepower - our scoring is really spread out through the entire lineup," said Scott.
Jordan Carstairs, who had Scott as his coach in ice hockey and inline hockey, and former WHL goaltender Jared Rathjen are the Cougars' assistant coaches.
"They jumped in with two feet and they're doing a great job, said Scott. "I'll be pretty much obsolete by the end of the year. They bring a lot of life skills. I'm older than a lot of the parents of the kids and it's good to have a couple of young guys who are very versed in the game but also have skills off the ice for the young guys as well."
The Cougars have done well in tournament play. They lost 4-3 to Terrace in the semifinal of a Salmon Arm tournament, lost a semifinal 5-3 to West Kelowna in Kelowna, won a Quesnel tournament and finished 2-2 at an Abbotsford tournament two weeks ago.
"I do know everybody is excited to play at home because we have been on the bus a ton," said Scott.
The eight-team provincial midget Tier 2 championship will be played March 14-16 at Kin 1.
